Emergency Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2021

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 895 To provide for assistance to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems affected by the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 5, 2021 Mr. ROUZER (for himself and Mr. VELA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To provide for assistance to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems affected by the COVID–19 pan- demic, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Emergency Assistance 4 for Rural Water Systems Act of 2021’’. 5 SEC. 2. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL WATER SYS- 6 TEMS. 7 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 8 (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti- 9 ty’’ means a rural water, wastewater, or waste dis- 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H895.IH H895 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 895 IH posal facility with respect to which assistance may 1 be provided under a water, wastewater, or waste dis- 2 posal program under section 306(a), 306A, 306C, or 3 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop- 4 ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a), 1926a, 1926c, 1926d). 5 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 6 the Secretary of Agriculture. 7 (b) EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 8 may— 9 (1) provide a grant, a zero percent interest 10 loan, or a 1 percent interest loan to, forgive prin- 11 cipal or interest or modify any term or condition of 12 an outstanding loan made to, or refinance part or all 13 of any other loan (if the purpose of the loan is an 14 eligible purpose under section 306(a)(1) or 306C of 15 the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 16 (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(1), 1926c)) made to, an eligible 17 entity; or 18 (2) reduce or eliminate any fee that is or would 19 otherwise be required to be paid under section 20 306(a)(1) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(1)) with re- 21 spect to a loan guarantee provided to an eligible en- 22 tity, on the condition that the eligible entity receives 23 the benefit resulting from the reduction or elimi- 24 nation of the fee. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H895.IH H895 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 895 IH (c) LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may pro- 1 vide assistance to an eligible entity under subsection (b) 2 as the Secretary determines is necessary— 3 (1) to ensure that the eligible entity has the 4 necessary resources to maintain public health, safe- 5 ty, or order; 6 (2) to address financial hardships of the eligible 7 entity due to the COVID–19 public health emer- 8 gency; or 9 (3) to promote the financial stability of the eli- 10 gible entity. 11 (d) USE OF ASSISTANCE.—An eligible entity to which 12 assistance is provided under subsection (b) may use the 13 assistance— 14 (1) for any purpose for which the eligible entity 15 is eligible for assistance under the relevant provision 16 of law referred to in subsection (a)(1); or 17 (2) for any direct operational expenses of in- 18 curred by the eligible entity, as determined by the 19 Secretary. 20 (e) APPROPRIATION.— 21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Out of any amounts in the 22 Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appro- 23 priated to the Secretary $1,000,000,000 to carry out 24 this section. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H895.IH H895 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 895 IH (2) RESERVATION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EX- 1 PENSES.—The Secretary shall reserve 3 percent of 2 the amount appropriated by paragraph (1) for ad- 3 ministrative expenses incurred by the Secretary in 4 carrying out this section. 5 (3) AVAILABILITY.—The amount appropriated 6 by paragraph (1) shall remain available through De- 7 cember 31, 2022. 8 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H895.IH H895 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS